An unsettling scene unfolded in Oakland Park, Florida, when a man carjacked a woman and drove off with her young child still in the backseat of the SUV. Local authorities have confirmed that the Broward Sheriff’s Office is now actively seeking the suspect in the incident that took place on Wednesday morning at around 8:30 a.m. According to a news release by BSO spokeswoman Claudinne Caro, obtained by Local 10, the initial car accident involved a mother and her three-year-old daughter. As the mother attempted to exchange information with the other driver involved, an unidentified male seized the opportunity to steal the vehicle, with the child still inside.
In a harrowing attempt to save her child, the mother grabbed onto the door of her white SUV, screaming to the carjacker about her daughter's presence in the vehicle. This act of desperation, however, resulted to only drag her momentarily before she fell to the pavement. Surveillance footage later released by the sheriff's office—reported by WPTV—revealed the subsequent moments where the carjacker left the toddler on the sidewalk in her car seat, before abandoning the stolen vehicle and subsequently using the victim’s credit card at a Family Dollar store.
The callous act has prompted a significant response from the community and a plea for public assistance in locating the suspect. Det. Azucena Rodriguez of the BSO Special Victims Unit is leading the investigation. Concerned citizens or those with information on the identity or whereabouts of the man responsible are encouraged to contact Det. Rodriguez or to provide anonymous tips through Broward Crime Stoppers, who, according to authorities, are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that can lead to an arrest.
The Broward Sheriff's Office is relying heavily on the public’s help to capture the suspect. Anyone who can identify the man is urged to reach out to the BSO Special Victims Unit or Broward Crime Stoppers. The contact numbers are 954-321-4227 for Det. Rodriguez and 954-493-TIPS for the Crime Stoppers tip line, with the option to remain anonymous to ensure privacy.
